NEW YORK (AFP) - New York on Tuesday passed what supporters called the toughest gun ownership law in the country and became the first United States (US) state to impose new restrictions in the wake of last month’s elementary school massacre in Connecticut.

Lawmakers in the lower house of the State Assembly voted 104-43 in favour of the measure, which had been approved by the upper house in a 43-18 vote on late Monday.

Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who rushed through the legislation, welcomed the assembly’s “bold statement, coming together in a bipartisan, collaborative manner to meet the challenges that face our state and our nation, as we have seen far too many senseless acts of gun violence.”

He told lawmakers ahead of the votes: “The people of this state now are crying out for help on the issue of gun violence.”